Acetylene-gas generator.



"N0-.72o,976.- PATENTED EEE.17,.190"3.

1 W. E. SGOEIELD.

AGET'YLENE GAS GENERATOR.

, APPLIQATION FILED DEG. 2s, 1901.. no MODEL.

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No. 720,976. .l PATENTBD fx1-:15.17, 199s. W. E. 500mm. AQETYLBNE GAS GENERATOR.

AIPLIOATION FILED DEG. 28, 1901.

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l'lr'l UNITED STATES' PATENT OEEICE.

WILLIAM E. SOOFIELD, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEV YORK, SSIGNOR TO THE SUNLIGHT GAS MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEN YORK, N. Y., A OOR' PoRATIoN or NEW JERSEY.

ACETYLEN E-GAS G ENERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 720,9706, dated February 17, 1903.

Application iiled December 28, 1901. Serial No. 88,439. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t 17u/Ly concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SCOEIELD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Island City, borough of Queens, county 'of Queens, and-State of New York, have made a new and useful Invention in Acetyle'ne-Gas Generators, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention is directed particularly to Io improvements upon an acetylene-gas genera-` tor disclosed in a prio-r patent, No.` (557,364,A

granted to me by the United States Patent Oflice on the 4th day of September, 1900; and it has for its objects, first, to simplify the r 5 structural apparatus of the generator dis-` closed in the before-mentioned patent with relation to the means for suspending the carbid-containin g cartridges within the gas-generating chamber and withdrawing them there- 2o from; second, t0 provide improved means for locking the suspended cartridges within the upper part of the generator in such manner that they can only be released by the releasing mechanism when actuated; third, to provide a novel form of carbid-containing cartridge weighted at its lower end and so constructed that it will always assume a vertical position when released and allowed to de-y scend through the water into the gas-genergo ating chamber, said cartridge having also a further novel feature in the nature of a removable carbid-containing cup perforated at its bottom; fourth, to provide means for more effectually releasing the carbid-containing 3 5 cartridges in succession as the bell of the gasometer descends and also to provide means for compensating for any lost motion in said releasing means, so that the carbid-containing cartridges will be surely released in sequence 4o as the bell of the gasometer descends to its lowest position after the volume of gas previously generated has been consumed.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevational View of the entire apparatus, illustrating also a gasometer connected thereto, one of the carbid -containing cartridges and its ilexihle supporting-chain being shown, respectively, in dotted lines in its locked and submerged positions. Fig. 2 is 5o an enlarged detail side elevational view of the mechanism which supports and releases the carbid-cartridges and the compensating mechanism for takingup any lost motion thereof, the driving-shaftV therefor being shown in section and as seen looking at Fig. Sin' thedirectionfo'f the arrows. Fig. 3 is a plan View illustrating the carbid-cartridges in their supported positions with their caps or covers removed, showing the carbid, togetherwith the releasing mechanism and its 6o operative connection with the bell of the gasometer, the pipe between the gasometer and the gas-generating chamber and the blow-off pipes being also shown. Fig. 4 is a part side elevational part sectional view taken through that part of the apparatus shown in Fig. l which regulates the blow-olf of the gas from the gas-generating chamber, the withdrawal of the water from the same, and the connections between the gas-generating chamber 7o and the gasometer, the same being viewed inl the direction of the arrows from the left toward theright hand side'of the drawings. Fig. 5 is an enlargedpart elevational part sectional view. of one of the carbid-containing cartridges, illustrating also its supporting bail and chain.v Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the bottom of the interior carbidcon taining cup. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view as seen looking at Fig. 5 from the top toward 8o the bottomV of the drawings, the supportingbail, however, not being shown in this view.

Referring now -to the drawings in detail, l represents the gas-generating chamber, 2'the gasonieter, vand 3 the"'common supporting- 8 5 base. Y

i is the door at the upper end of the gasgenerating chamber for receiving and removing the carbid-containing. cartridges, and 5 is an outlet for a two-wayvcock at the bottom 9o of the gas-generating chamber for withdrawing the water therefrom when desired.

6 is a vertical wall adapted to suspend the carbid-containing cartridges in their vertical position.

7 is a curved side or surface adapted to con- Vey the carbid-containing cartridges to their suspended positions when released.

- S is a metallic frame adapted to support certain parts of the apparatus and to connect roc the upper end of the gas-generating chamber mechanically with the gasometer.

10 is a seal or apron extending downward into the water and constituting one of the interior walls of the gas-generating and gascontaining chamber.

11 11 11 are hooks secured to the inner face 0f the frame 8 and adapted to' receive rings 9 9 9 at the outer ends of chains or other iexible supports 29 29, &c. the other ends of which are secured directly to hails 28 of 'the carbidcontaining cartridges 22.

.13 is a driving-shaft journaled at its opposite ends in brackets 12 12 and provided at intervals with releasing-fingers 15 15, radially disposed, said releasing-fingers being secured to the shaft by set-screws, as shown in Fig. 3.

16 16 16 are barrels for supporting sliding locking-bolts 18 18 18.

19 19 are trunnions passing through the bolts Vand adapted to move in slots in the lower ends of releasing-levers 20, supported by pivot-pins 21 2l on the barrels 16 16.

14 is a ratchet-wheel supported by the shaft 13, and 43 is a locking detent or pawl therefor.

47 is an arm hinged to a curved arm 42, carried at the top of the bell of the gasometer and adapted in its downward lnovement to operate the releasing mechanism.

The details of construction of this locking and releasing mechanism as described so far are not essentially different from the like parts disclosed in the before-mentioned patent,except thatin the present case the ratchet- Wheel 14 is provided with an indefinite number of teeth, while in the before-mentioned patent the ratchet-Wheel has eight teeth, or as many teeth as there are carbid-cartridges, the arm corresponding to the arm 47 in that case acting directly on one tooth of the ratchetwheel at each descent. With such an arrangement, however, there was not always such a certainty of operation as might be desired, owing to the fact that the lower end of the arm might not always reach the pawl of the ratchet-wheel at the proper position to release the locked cartridge. It therefore became necessary to devise means whereby each descent of the bell would surely release the proper carbid-cartridge and also to provide compensating means for assuring the fact that the releasing-fingers 15 would always assume a definite position with relation to the releasing-levers 20, so that the apparatus would work with the greatest nicety. This is accomplishedA through the agency of two sets of means: first, a pivoted lever 17, carried by the shaft 13 and having at its upper end a pivoted pawl 25 and at its lower end a pivoted weight 30,adapted to return the pawl to its upper position when released, this position being always assured by reason of the pivoted lever 17 coming into contact with the stop-pin 27 in the bracket 12 when the weight 30 returns said lever to its lowest position; second, compensating means consisting of a lever 34, pivoted directly to the body of the gasgenerating chamber and having at its free end a weight 37, 33 being a roller adapted to roll freely over the teeth of a compensating star-wheel 3l, carried by the shaft 13, the relations of the weight 37, the roller 33, and star-wheel 31 being such that when said roller passes one of the points of the star-wheel it will always advance the next succeeding operating-finger 15 just into mechanical contact with its releasing-lever 20, as will be more particularly described later on in connection with the description of the mode ofoperation.

44 44 are locking-arms located one above each bolt 18 and adapted to hold the carbidcontaining cartridge in its locked position, so that said cartridge cannot be removed after it is once putin place otherwise than through the action of the mechanism itself.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings for a detailed description of the carbid-containing cartridges, 22 represents the outer shell of the cartridge,provided with ears for receiving the bail 28, and 32 is alockinglug on one face thereof for receiving the end of the locking-bolt 18. 23 is a cone-shaped metallic base having a perforation or opening, as shown, for permitting the water to enter the cartridge from the bottom, said base being of sufficient Weight to assure the fact that the cartridge when released will descend by its own weight to the lowest possible position and right itself beneath the Water in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the flexible supporting-chain 29 under tension. 39 is an inner carbid-containing cup having a perforated bottom 24 (see Fig. 6) and a bayonetjoint for removably securing it within the outer shell of the cartridge 22, and 26 is a puppet-valve for permitting the gas when IOO generated within the cartridge to escape, said valve being seated in the removable cap 45 in the Asame manner as thelike valve is seated in the removable cap of the cartridge disclosed in my before-mentioned patent.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, I will describe that portion of the improvement directed to the means for connecting the gasgenerating chamber to and disconnecting it from the gasometer and at the same time Iclosing the cock for withdrawing the Water from the gas -generating chamber and the blow-o pipe for preventing the gas from escaping into the open air from said chamber, and vice versa. 5 represents the water-cock outlet at the bottom of the gas-chamber., and 36 a pipe connecting the gas-generating chamber with the gasometer. 47 is a blow-off pipe for the gas-generating chamber, and 51 the connection with the three-way cock for making the connections atl will. 50' is a two-way cock for permitting of the withdrawal of the water from the generating-chamber or not, as desired. 49 49- are wrenches adapted to engage the cocks 50 and 50', and 46 is a connecting-joint for said wrenches, 48 being an IIO rgo

operating-handle secured to a point easily accessible to an attendant. 48' is a blow-off pipe for the outer portion of the gas-generating chamber in the event of any gas escaping to that part thereof.

I will now describe the mode of operation. The powdered carbid is first placed in the inner cups 39 and they are placed in the carbid-containing cartridges 22, after which the caps or covers are secured in place. The rings 9 are then hung upon the hooks 11 and the several carbid-containi ng cartridges are hung upon the bolts 18 by first pressing each bolt inward through the agency of the ear or lug 32 and then lifting the cartridge and the ear or lug carried thereby upward, so that the bolt snaps into position in the grooved part of said ear, (see Fig. 5,) and the ear or lug is locked against removal by the lockingarm 44. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Upon the supposition, now, that the third finger 15 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 and that gas is being consumed from the gasometer, the bell 41 will descend until the arm 47 comes into mechanical contact with the curved pawl 25, causing it to descend and carry with it the pivoted arm 17 and at the same time lifting the Weight 30 until the finger 15 causes the bolt 18 to be withdrawn, thus releasing the cartridge and allowing it to descend by its own weight into the position shown in Fig. l, where it is held by the supporting-chain 29, so that the gas now being generated by the Water escapes upward into the gas-generating chamber. Consequently gas passes from the gas-generating chamber by the pipe 36 to the gasometer 2, upon the supposition, of course, that the three-way cock 50 is in such position as to connect the two chambers, in which event the cock 50' at the bottom of the gasgenerating chamber is closed. As the gas is generated, therefore, the bell Lil rises, and

with it the arm 47', the pawl 25, and pivoted lever 17, the latter under the influence of the weight 30. All the points of `the star-Wheel 31 have, respectively, such a relation to the several releasing-lingers 15 that after the cartridge is released the roller 33, acting under the influence of the weight 37, will advance the shaft 13, andV hence the iingers carried thereby, always to the proper position to bring the next succeeding finger in the series in connection with its releasing-lever 20, thereby avoiding any possibility of an error of operation in the apparatus due to lost motion. This feature constitutes an essential element of my invention in that it renders the apparatus automatic and certain in its operation as to the successive release of the cartridges when the gasometer descends after the corresponding volumes of gas have beenl consumed.

It will be apparent that by substituting a flexible means of suspension for the cartridges and by weighting the lower end thereof suffi cientlyI have materially improved the invention disclosed in `my prior patent in that I avoid the necessity of any guiding means for guiding the cartridges in their descent. I also avoid any possibility of the cartridges becoming vchecked or suspended atV points.

midway in their descent, making it absolutely certain that said cartridges will always assume the proper position-namely, vertical-so that the gas will be generated and aseend into the receiving-chamber. Such a flexible means of support as the chain 29 also makes it possible to withdraw the cartridges with a minimum amount of annoyance or trouble, after which the inner carbid-containing cup 39 may be removed, the contents emptied, and then be refilled without necessitating the conveyance of theentire cartridge to a distant point to be filled, and these inner cups may, if preferred, be provided with perforated covers. By the agency of the locking mechanism, whereby the cartridges are locked in their suspended positions, no one can tamper with or release them other than by rotating the proper releasing mechanism,

a feature of importance in that it assures the .operation of the apparatus in the manner it is intended it should operate. The compensating mechanism'in the nature of the star- Wheel and Weighted lever, with its operatinglever 33, also assures an accuracy of operation which was not attainable with the apparatus disclosed in my before-mentioned patent.

I believe it is broadly new with me toso construct and suspend directly from the frame of the carbid-generator a carbid-containing cartridge by means of a dexible support that when released it will assume its proper position without guiding means and tthat it may be withdrawn at will after theA gas vhas been generated, and my claims are generic as to this feature of improvement. I believe it is also broadly new with me to construct a carbid-cartridge of two parts, one of which is provided with a perforated metallic base and constitutes the cartridge proper and the other the'containing cell or vessel for the carbid, said parts being removable or detachable the one from the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An acetylene gas generator having a gas-generating chamber and Va supportingframe; in combination with a carbid-containing cartridge provided with a flexible means of support secured at one end to the supporting-frame and at the other to the cartridge and adapted to sustain it within the cham- IOO IIO

ber, said cartridge being provided withsuiicient weight at its lower end to maintain itin and one or more carbid-containing cartridges;

in combination withV means for supporting the same abovev the water; together with a flexible means of support attached directly to the frame and to each cartridge and adapted to sustain the cartridge, when released, in a submerged position within the generatingchamber, said cartridge being weighted at its lower end to' such an extent as to maintain it always in a vertical position, substantially as described.

3. An ascetylenegas generator having a gas-generating chamber, a supporting-frame and one or more carbid-containing cartridges; in combination with means for supporting the same above the water; together with a flexible means of support attached directly to the frame and to each cartridge and adapted to sustain the cartridge, when released, in a submerged position, and automatic releasing mechanism therefor, said cartridge being Weighted at its lower end to such an extent as to maintain it always in a Vertical position, substantially as described.

4. An acetylenegas generator having a gas-generating chamber and a series of carbid-containing cartridges; in combination with locking mechanism for supporting said cartridges above the water in the generatingchamber; together with automatic releasing -mechanism actuated by the descent of the gasometer-bell, and compensating mechanism for bringing the releasing mechanism always into operative relation with the locking mechanism so that the cartridges will be suecessively released as gas is consumed, substantially as described.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator mechanism for supporting the carbid-containing cartridges above the water in the gas-generating chamber; consisting of a series of lockingbolts; in combination with releasing mechanism adapted to withdraw or release said bolts in sequence; together with compensating.

mechanism adapted to bring the releasing mechanism always into operative relation with the locking mechanism in sequence after each cartridge is released, substantially as described.

6. A carbid-containing cartridge for an acetylene-gas generator consisting of two parts, in the nature of an outer shell and an inner containing cell or vessel detachable therefrom, said outer shell being provided with a perforated metallic base, substantially as described.

7. A carbid-containing cartridge for an acetylene-gas generator provided with iexible means of support for sustaining it in a submerged position within the gas-generatin g chamber, said cartridge being weighted at its lower end, substantially as described.

8. A carbid-containing cartridge for an acetylene-gas generator, consisting of an outer shell provided with a perforated Weighted bottom, a removable cap, a bail, and a flexible support; in combination with a removable inner cup perforated at its bottom, substantially as described.

9. A carbid-containing cartridge for an acetylene -gas generator, consisting of an outer shell provided with a perforated weighted bottom; a removable cap having a puppetvalve; a bail and a flexible support; in combination with a removable inner, cup perforated at its bottom, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM E. SCOFIELD.

Witnesses:

C. J. KINTNER, M. F. KEATING. 

